MEET THE STAFF

               of Grace Lutheran Church

Pastor Craig Bowyer                                        

Pastor Craig Bowyer was raised in Ada, Minnesota
(about 100 miles South of Winnipeg).  He attended
the University of Dubuque as a Sociology major.  
Prior to attending seminary, he worked in the grocery 
business, real estate development, owned 3 
convenience stores, and managed a company pro-
viding feed silo systems.  Pastor Bowyer graduated
from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque IA.  He was
ordained in '86 in Anamosa IA, and has been a pastor for 14 years.
His first calls were to rural churches in the Midwest.  Married to 
Suzy Bowyer for 37 years, they have 3 children (ages 33, 31, and 12)
and 2 grandchildren.  Pastor Bowyer has lived in Ada and Hawley 
Minnesota; Dubuque, Anamosa, Lost Nation, and Sumner, Iowa; 
Chicago and Frankfort, Illinois; Fairmont, Nebraska; Troy, Kansas; 
and Foley, Alabama.  Pastor Bowyer was called as a mission 
developer to Foley and Gulf Shores, AL. in September, '98 by the 
Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 
(ELCA).

Pastor Beth Devan
                                                
Pastor Devan was born and raised in Fulton Missouri 
as a Presbyterian. (She became a Lutheran in 1973 in 
Hawaii).  She has lived in Missouri, Alabama,
California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and 
Alberta. She has an undergraduate degree from 
Bennington College in Vermont, and graduated from 
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. Ordained in '89 in 
Gettysburg, PA, she has been a pastor for 11 years. Pastor Devan has 
been married to Ben Devan for 30 years, and they have 4 children ages
27, 25, 22, and 20.  Other work prior to ordination included secretary,
hospital admitting clerk, keypunch operator, teacher's aide, church 
organist, and mother.  She has served parishes in rural Pennsylvania, 
and suburban Calgary before coming to the Gulf.  Pastor Devan and Ben 
came to the Gulf from Calgary to assist in the care of their mothers, both 
residing in this area.

Secretary Steve Walker (The real   organizing  talent behind Grace)		Council President   Earl Janssen
Organist Charlotte Below		Adult Bible Study Teacher Al Carlson
Sunday School Director Suzy Bowyer

Contact Grace Lutheran at 251-968-5991
Email: graceluth@gulftel.com